Ammunition-conveyer.



G. C. PLUMMER. AMMUNITION CONVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1908.

Patented Mar. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

/l TTOR/VEKS G. c. PLUMMER. AMMUNITION GONVEYBR.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1908.

Patented Mar, 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE' C. PLUMMER, 0F ARDMORE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR '10 MAIN BELTING' COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- vANIa.

AMM'UNITION-CONVEYER.

Application led September 26, 1908. Serial No. 454,930.

To all rwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. ILUMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ardmore, county of Montgomery, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ammunition-Conveyers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

ln war ships, for the purpose of transporting ammunition from the vicinity of magazines to the various guns, conveyers are used. At present these conveyers consist substantially of pairs of toothed wheels placed at the beginning and the ending of the space over lwhich the ammunitionis to be conveyed, of chains arranged to run, side by v side, over these pairs of toothed wheels, and

of plates of-metal secured to the links of these chains, these plates, placed close together, forming between the pairs of toothed wheels a movable table. These conveyers, being of metal, are very heavy, so that when operated they consume a great deal of power. They are also very noisy, when running; so noisy, indeed, as to preclude the giving of verbal orders by oiiicers to men while they are in operation. These defects and others make it desirable that some more easily operated and less noisy apparatus be provided.

Belt conveyers are practically noiseless andthey, if properly designed and constructed, require much less power for their operation than do the above described conveyers. In handling ammunition, however,

it is desirable that the carrying part of a rollers, however, allow a belt to sag, underv conveyer shall be thoroughly supported at every point. Intermittent supports -for a belt conveyer are usually provided by the use of rollers, over which the carrying part of the beltis arranged to be drawn. These heavyv weights, between adjacent pairs, which is objectionable in ammunition conveyers. Continuous supports for such conveyers may be provided by placing underneath the carrying part of the belt a stationvary table of wood or metal, but in dragging a belt over such a table much power is con sumed in friction. j

The specific object of my invention is to provide a conveyer of the belt type adapted for conveying ammunition which Kwill not be open to the objections above enumerated.

To this end the invention consists in the combination with the traveling element of the conveyer and a table on which the carrying part of the same is adapted to slide,`of means to allow the traveling element to slip freely over the table while maintaining a non-slipping connection with the dri-ving element of the conveyer. 4 l

Specifically, the invention may be embodied in dierent specific forms, of which I prefer the form which consists of a traveling. element consisting of a compound belt comprising a main belt and a supplemental belt underlying the main belt and driven thereby, and a table over which the compound belt slides and with which the supplemental belt alone contacts, and in which, preferably, the inner or sliding face of the compound belt and the working face of the table are lubricated by means of a lubricating substance applied to the inner face of the supplemental belt, or to the table, or to both. Another specific form, somewhat simpler in construction, but not open to use under all conditions, comprises a traveling element consisting of a single conveying belt and a table over which the belt slides, in which the inner or sliding face of the belt and the working face of the table are lubricated, combined with a driving element arrangedto engage the unlubricated or working face of the belt instead of the non-working face of the belt as in an ordinary belt conveyer. Eachof these specic embodlments of my invention is shown in the draw ings and is hereinafter described, it being understood that both embodiments are illus trated merely and do not exhaust the possibilities in the way of variations, with vrespect to details of construction, of the essential features of the invention.

The'invention also consists, secondarily, of devices to prevent the lubricant dropping upon the working or driving face or faces of the traveling element of the belt conveyer and to divert such escaping lubricant to the sliding face of 'the traveling element, and also to catch and retain lubricant escaping from the traveling element of the conveyer and to minimize the loss of the lubricant by waste.

rio j and the belt` b around the top of belt Section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, partly cut. away, of

a modified belt conveyer embodying my invention, with the guards or deflectors omitted. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sections respectively onthe lines 4 4, 5 5 and 6-6 of Fig. 3. f

respectively. One of the pulley shafts is a driving shaft. Upon the top of the belt a loads may be placed and carried between the loading and unloading tables y' and g.

its load, I provide the table plate e, which may be rigidly constructed and held in place. To enable the belt a to slide over the table plate e I arrange pulleys f and g them, substantially as shown, the top ,of belt b being also supported on top of the table plate e, so that a rests on the top of belt b and this, in turn, on plate e. The pulleys f and g are shown as supported respectively 1n bearings on the brackets f and g', secured to thetable. I A

The belt a, when `loaded and moved, will drag the supplemental belt b along with it. Belt b, therefore, is arranged to slide and belt a to move over its course thoroughly supported and without sliding or sagging. To enable the supplemental belt I) to slide readily, I make its face slippery, which may be done by the application of lubricating olls, greases, graphites, etc.; or the lubricating substance may be applied to the'face of the table. The adhesion of belt a to belt b may be increased to a materialextent, if desired, by the application of suitable adhesive substances to one of the opposing faces of the two belts, preferably to the belt a.

, h, L, are rollers spaced apart and underlying the lower reach of the main belt a, whereby this part of the belt is intermittently supported and held from substantial sagging. Similar rollers 2'., z', underlie the lower reach of the supplemental belt l).

One of the pulleys c, 2i, preferably the one not directly driven, lmay be made adjustable so as to take up the slack in the main belt. For this purpose I have shown the adjusting screws .e engaging bearings d.

Secured to flanges e at the sides of the table are guards or deflectors 7s. These guards are spaced from the table and extend from substantially above the. level of th table to substantially below the level of the table. The lower ends of the guards are vbent obliquely in wardly. The function of 'Io substantially support the belt' al under' non-working face of the belt.

these guards is to catch any particles of the lubricating material that escape from the table and divert them onto the inner face of the lower reach of the supplemental belt.

Between the lower reach of the supplemental belt b and the lower reach of the main belt a is a pan Z, the ends of which extend respectively up between the pulleys o and f and pulleys d and g. The function of this pan is to catch and retain any Jartieles of lubricating material that. may rop off 'the lower reach of the supplemental belt.

To the flanged sides of the pan Z are secured the obliquely outwardly extending guards Z; upon which fall any' particles of lubricating material that may fall ott' the edges of the supplemental belt.l By this construction the deposit of lubricating material 011 the main belt a or on any other part of the structure except the sliding or lubricated surface of the supplemental belt is prevented, while any lubricating material that escapes from the latter belt israught and may be collected andnsed over again.

` In the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the traveling element of the conveyer consists of the single belt m. This belt slides directly upon the table plate a and thesliding face of the belt and the surface of the table are lubricated, preferably by applying a lubricant to the table. o 'and p are end pulleys around which the belt m extends. 1 is the driving pulley, which is located preferably underneath the table and is arranged to engage the carrying face of the belt contrary to the usual arrangement in which the driving pulley engages the The belt preferably passes direct from one of the end pulleys o to and around the driving pulley r, thence to and around the pulley s (which may be adjustable horizontally Vto tighten the belt), thence under the pulley t and over the pulley u and thence over the rollers Vv to the other end pulley y). By this arrangement the belt m. will move over the table plate n without undue friction. and at the same time the driving pulley will not contact with the lubricated face of the belt, whereas if either of the end pulleys were employed as a driving pulley. the adhesion of the belt to the driving pulley would be/so reduced by the lubricant adhering to the non-working face of the belt that under a load the slippage between the belt and driving pulley would be so great that its operation would` be more or less uncertain and irregular, while under a heavy load there would be danger of complete inoperativeness.

As in the preferred construction, guards 'w are provided at the sides of the table to catch escaping particles of lubricantand guide them onto the inner face of the lower reach of the belt. and beneath the lower reach of the belt above the adjustable pulley s is a pair' to catch particles of lubricant escaping therefrom. It is desirable, however, to guard against any particles of lubricant being deposited upon that part of the belt which, at any given time, is passing.

over the driving pulley 7", in order to certainly protect th'edriving pulley. This is accomplished by bending the lower ends of the guards fw obliquely outwardly, instead ofv obliquely inwardly, at this point, and also by bending the flanged edges n of the table plate fn, in the same direction, and by providing pans y at opposite sides of 'the driving pulley to catch any lubricant' that may escape between the guards fw and flanges n.

While the conveyers hereinbefore de scribed are more especially designed with a view of handling ammunition on war vessels, the utility of the invention is not limited to this application, as it may be found available for use in conveying other inaterials in other situations. Y

Having now fully described my invention, whatI claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is l. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element thereof, of a substantially continuous rigid support over which the saine is adapted to slide, the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the traveling element being lubricated, and driving means engaging the part of the traveling element not contacting with the said surface of the table.

.2. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element thereof, of a table over and along which from end to end the traveling element is adapted to slide, the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the traveling element: being lubricated, and driving means engaging the part only of the traveling element not contacting with the said Vface of the table.

.3. In a Abelt conveyer, the combination with the main or conveyer belt, and driving means therefor, of a supplementary belt underlying and contacting with the main belt,

and .a substantially continuous rigid support underlying and contacting with the supplementary belt and over which the latter is adapted to slide substantially throughout the'length of the support and be vdriven by frictional contact with the main belt.

4. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the main or conveyer belt and driving means therefor, of a supplementary belt under the main belt, and a substantially con tinuous rigid `support over which the supplementary belt is adapted to slide and be driven by frictional contact'with the super! posed main belt, the surface of the table or ofthe opposing face of the supplementary belt being lubricated.v

former in their' upper reaches, o a table over and along which from end to end the traveling element is adapted to slide,'the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the supplemental 'belt being lubricated, and means to drive the main belt.

6. In a belt conveyer, the combination with a table,of an endless belt whose upper reach overlies the table substantially throughout the lattersv length, idler pulleys about which the endless belt is adapted to travel, an endless conveyer belt whose upper reach overlies the upper reach of the first belt, and other pulleys, one of which is a driving pulley, about which the conveyer belt is adapted to travel, whereby the conveyer belt drives the other belt by frictional contact therewith, while sliding over the table.

7. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element composed of two fiat faced belts of substantially equal width, of a table over which said belts are adapted to slide, the surface ofthe table, or of the opposing face of the belt contacting therewith being lubricated throughout the width of the traveling element, and means to drive the main belt.

S. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element thereof, of a table over which the same is adapted to slide, the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the traveling element being lubricated, and means to divert lubricant escaping from the table onto the slidingV face of the traveling element temporarily out of sliding engagement with the table.

9. In a belt conveyer, the' combination with the traveling element thereof, 'of .a table over which the same is adaptedl to slide, the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the traveling element being lubricated, and guards at the sides of the table extending from above the same to below the same and above the sliding face of the traveling element temporarily out of sliding engagement with the table.

10. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element thereof, of a table over which the saine is adapted to slide, the surface of the table or of the opposing face of the traveling element being lubricated, and guards 'at the sides lof the table and spaced therefrom and extending above'and below the saine, whose lower ends extend obliquely inwardly and overhang the sliding face of the traveling element temporai-ily out of sliding engagement with the table.

11. In a belt conveyer, the combination with the traveling element thereof, of a `table over 'which the same is adapted to l over which the supplementary belt is adaptslide, the surface of the table or of the o P posing face of the traveling element being I lubricated, means to divert lubricant escaping from the table onto the sliding face of the traveling element temporarily out of enf l5. In a belt conveyer, the combina-tion gagement with the table, and means to catch with the traveling element thereof comprislubricant escaping from the last-named part! ing a main belt and a supplementary belt of the traveling element. adapted to be driven thereby, of a table l2. In a belt conveyer, the combination over which the supplementary belt is adaptwith the traveling element thereof, of a edto slide, means to divert lubricant escaptable over which the same is adapted to ing from the table onto the inner or upper slide, the surface of the table or of the opface of the lower reach of the supplemenposing face of the traveling element being tary belt, and means to catch lubricant eslubricated, guards at the sides of the table caping from the lower reach of the suppleextending from above the same to below the ment-ary belt. e same and above the sliding face of the travg 16. 'In a belt conveyer, the combination eling element temporarilyout of sliding enwith the traveling element thereof comprisgagement with the table, and a receptacle ing a main belt 'and a supplementary belt underneath the last-named part of the tra-vadapted to be driven thereby, of a table over eling element to catch and retain lubricant which the supplementary belt is adapted to escaping therefrom. slide, guards at the side of. the table and 13. In a belt conveyer, the combination spaced therefrom whose lower ends over with the traveling element thereof comprishang the inner or upper face of the lower mg a main belt and a supplement-ary belt reach of the supplementary belt, and. a adapted to be driven thereby, of a table receptacle underlying the lower reach of the over which the supplementary belt is adaptsupplementary belt and overlying the lower ed to slide, and means to ldivert lubricant reach of the main belt. escaping from the table onto the inner or In testimony of which invention, I have upper face of the lower reach of the supplementar)7 belt. E Penna., on this 24th day of September, 1908.

14. vIn a belt conveyer, the combination GEORGE C. PLUMMER. with the traveling element thereof comprisvWitnesses: mg a main belt and a supplementary belt FRANK S. BUssER, adapted to be driven thereby, of a table M. M. HAMILTON.

ed to slide, and guards at the side of the g table and spaced therefrom whose lower i ends overhang the' inner or upper face of the lower reach ofthe supplementary belt. .t

hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, 

